We just finished our training with the South Africa people, Bro. Elks and Elder and Sister Godfrey. They are very nice people and we had some good discussions and training. Now we have some work to do to close some files that need closing - we will have to do our best as they are not projects that we worked on but need to have the final paperwork done so SLC can close them. (There are probably about 10 or 12 of them).
We learned a lot about how we should be doing things. In ways it makes things harder for us. We need to do a lot of networking with other organizations to find suitable partners that we can work with and that we can trust. We identify a need (initiative) and find partners and have to research and write up our proposal and hope that it will be accepted. Elder Elks prefers the big initiatives (wheelchairs, boreholes, etc.) but we can also do area initiatives (under $15,000). Our budget allows for $80,000 for area initiatives and the amount for the big ones really depends on what it is - they can be $100,000's of dollars. YIKES!! We will put on our thinking caps and pray a lot for inspiration to determine what the Lord would have us do here for these people.
When it comes right down to it we are not to just give away things like we have been doing - and couples before us. We partner with organizations that do the distribution - that is why we need partners that we can trust. We could bring in a lot of something but it goes straight to the partner and we never even see it. They talked about how it is fun to give to individuals (grandparent syndrome) but that is not what we as country directors are to do. Of course we do have our container coming and it will need distribution but we will gradually get out of doing that. Also the gardens that we have been working with - need to go to the ward/branch priesthood leaders to oversee. That will also take a little time to change but we will begin the process. If they don't want to do it or don't see the need then they can be planted back into grass. (I think the members still need them.)
I made some egg salad sandwiches for our guests for lunch today. Tonight we are meeting them for supper. We really enjoy their company so that will be fun. They fly out tomorrow about noon.
We fly out to Malawi Saturday about noon and look forward to our trip up there. The missionary couple there have a full week planned for us. We will stay with them - apparently they have a 3 or 4 bdrm. house that they stay in.
It was nice to talk to Chris and Kimberley (and Brianne) on video Skype yesterday and with Scott and Tara on the skype phone. Thanks for getting that dvd for us Tara - we will be glad to have it when we get home. We and the Taylors have been watching the other ones (Love Comes Softly dvd's) on Sunday evenings. We did #4 this past week. (Good missionary appropriate movies).
Must run. Love to all, The Bullocks
Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Zimbabwe
We have been busy so far this week. We get phone calls from the Pastors and others than are running facilities for children and they want us to come and see their places of operation. It is good for us to go so that we can see exactly what their needs are and decide how we may be able to help.
Tuesday we went to "Trust in the Lord Orphan's Care" where Lettie has 10 children that live with her and they have about 150 children that come after school and they feed them a meal. It was a small house that is very old but it was clean and the surrounding yard (mostly cemented) was swept clean. They do their cooking outside over a fire, as do most people here. Bro. Spencer, who owns a grocery store here supplies them with a lot of their food, at no charge. (maize, cabbage,
etc.)
The children started arriving and are very polite. Jim entertained them with a finger game (Tommy, Tommy....) and tried to teach them to whistle with their hands. They liked that. He played a song-game that he used to do with the kids at school patrol camp and that got a lot of smiles.
Then the kids sang to us and danced some. Their songs are always about God and Jesus Christ and how wonderful They are and how blessed they are. They are happy -- they don't know any different. Most of these children have lost parents but live with grandmas or aunts/uncles or single moms.
Wednesday we went with Evelyn to visit "Just Joy" (a bridging organization). They are a big organization that help about 2000 children. They try to have sports and other things that keep the kids occupied. They pay the school fees and cost of uniforms for some children (through donations) so that they can go to school. Lots of the children are not in school and have nothing to do. They try and give each a toy at Christmas. Often then are left home alone while the parents go to sell veggies/fruit of whatever they can get on the street corners to try and make a little money. The area was high density and extremely poor. (I will try and send a picture or two). There were people everywhere and the homes were horrible with 3 and 4 families in a small apt.
She took us to one home where a grandmother is taking care of 6 grandchildren as the parents have all died (probably of aids). The grandmother is very sick (they said she has cervical cancer) and so 3 of the children are with neighbors (one is a baby) and will eventally end up in an orphanage, I'm sure. The grandmother was laying outside on the cement with a blanket - she couldn't get up. Apparently someone else has taken over the house and she sleeps in a corner with the 3 grandchildren or outside. I'm not sure who feeds them - perhaps this organization or neighbors. I didn't have the heart to take a picture as I didn't want the grandma to feel any worse than she already does.
apt. building in high-density area
apt. building with garbage in front
Now for some good news: two of Pres. Nield's daughters and some of his workers -- he employs about 25 people on his property so he can take care of them - he feeds them and gives them and their families the basic essentials -- anyway, they were sorting out boxes from the container that he received from the U.S. There was some food, blankets, hygiene kits, etc, etc. There were boxes and boxes of clothes and shoes donated by someone (not Deseret Industries). We went out and helped them for about 3 hrs. We sorted clothes into boys/girls/men/women/babies etc. We didn't get finished and had to put the boxes back into the container before it got dark. When I saw all those wonderful things that people had sent it brought tears to my eyes. There was so much but never enough for the needs here. It will help many though. We have a container due next week from DI with more of the same.
Just an example of how desperate these people are - and keep in mind that these are people that Pres. Nield brought to help because he trusts them for the most part. They all know that when they are done they will be given a set of clothes for each member of their family. However, after they had been sorting for a little while someone took a walk around and there were clothes hidden in the corn patch, under the container, along the fence and anywhere they could hide them so they could retrieve them later. Rachael, Pres. Nield's daughter really got after them and told them - that is theft, and we don't do that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The items were gathered up and put back. The people were all moved to the other side of the container where they could be watched more closely. They want anything they can get -- they can sell them on the street for money.
Container sorting - big job
sorting clothes by container
About driving in Zimbabwe: what an experience. I told Jim yesterday that this is a good way to get over noticing everyone's illegal turns, stops, etc. etc. There really are no rules or if there are everyone breaks them. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way. If they did the cars would never move. Like I said before the traffic lights (robots) hardly ever work so intersections are a 'take your best chance' crossing. On top of that people are everywhere - crossing streets anywhere and everywhere. Our first impulse is to stop for a pedestrian but they do watch and stop for the cars. Often they are standing right in the middle of two lanes waiting for their chance to run across - at home you might think this would be rather dangerous, but not here. When we were in the high density neighborhood yesterday people were really everywhere - it is amazing that cars can even drive through and that no one gets hit.
people going to town
We have no water pressure again so we are heating our water on the stove. At least we has Zesa (electricity) for now. The phone bills here have been about $10 a month but last month apparently they went to ridiculous prices of about $200 - 400 (as much as $2000) and people refused to pay them. They paid a little bit so that they couldn't disconnect them. Now the Internet isn't working a lot because they say people refused to pay their bills and they needed the money. Crazy methods.
One other thing I wanted to tell you was that there are little bonfires all over (yards, side of the road, etc.) because that is how they cook their Sadza (corn maize) or their field corn on a cob. There are patches of corn growing everywhere and wherever they can. That started because of the shortage of food grown on the farms here. That is why we have the `Prophet's Garden´ (as it has been named) here on the church property. People have plots here and are suppose to keep them up - some do better than others. Mostly they grow corn and a green vegetable that they make a relish type sauce out of. That is pretty much all they eat and they like it just fine - usually one, maybe two meals a day.
Jim went to Marondera today with Elder Taylor, to do the branch audit. They will be back about noonish. I am sorting through some information hoping that it will all make sense one day soon. Last night we joined the Taylor's in their flat next door and we watched the first `Love Comes Softly´ movie. They enjoyed that and so did we - we haven't seen it for a long time. They had a stressful day and wanted to relax - it worked.
spider on our ceiling
Must get back to my paperwork. Love to all.
Tuesday we went to "Trust in the Lord Orphan's Care" where Lettie has 10 children that live with her and they have about 150 children that come after school and they feed them a meal. It was a small house that is very old but it was clean and the surrounding yard (mostly cemented) was swept clean. They do their cooking outside over a fire, as do most people here. Bro. Spencer, who owns a grocery store here supplies them with a lot of their food, at no charge. (maize, cabbage,
etc.)
The children started arriving and are very polite. Jim entertained them with a finger game (Tommy, Tommy....) and tried to teach them to whistle with their hands. They liked that. He played a song-game that he used to do with the kids at school patrol camp and that got a lot of smiles.
Then the kids sang to us and danced some. Their songs are always about God and Jesus Christ and how wonderful They are and how blessed they are. They are happy -- they don't know any different. Most of these children have lost parents but live with grandmas or aunts/uncles or single moms.
Wednesday we went with Evelyn to visit "Just Joy" (a bridging organization). They are a big organization that help about 2000 children. They try to have sports and other things that keep the kids occupied. They pay the school fees and cost of uniforms for some children (through donations) so that they can go to school. Lots of the children are not in school and have nothing to do. They try and give each a toy at Christmas. Often then are left home alone while the parents go to sell veggies/fruit of whatever they can get on the street corners to try and make a little money. The area was high density and extremely poor. (I will try and send a picture or two). There were people everywhere and the homes were horrible with 3 and 4 families in a small apt.
She took us to one home where a grandmother is taking care of 6 grandchildren as the parents have all died (probably of aids). The grandmother is very sick (they said she has cervical cancer) and so 3 of the children are with neighbors (one is a baby) and will eventally end up in an orphanage, I'm sure. The grandmother was laying outside on the cement with a blanket - she couldn't get up. Apparently someone else has taken over the house and she sleeps in a corner with the 3 grandchildren or outside. I'm not sure who feeds them - perhaps this organization or neighbors. I didn't have the heart to take a picture as I didn't want the grandma to feel any worse than she already does.
apt. building in high-density area
apt. building with garbage in frontNow for some good news: two of Pres. Nield's daughters and some of his workers -- he employs about 25 people on his property so he can take care of them - he feeds them and gives them and their families the basic essentials -- anyway, they were sorting out boxes from the container that he received from the U.S. There was some food, blankets, hygiene kits, etc, etc. There were boxes and boxes of clothes and shoes donated by someone (not Deseret Industries). We went out and helped them for about 3 hrs. We sorted clothes into boys/girls/men/women/babies etc. We didn't get finished and had to put the boxes back into the container before it got dark. When I saw all those wonderful things that people had sent it brought tears to my eyes. There was so much but never enough for the needs here. It will help many though. We have a container due next week from DI with more of the same.
Just an example of how desperate these people are - and keep in mind that these are people that Pres. Nield brought to help because he trusts them for the most part. They all know that when they are done they will be given a set of clothes for each member of their family. However, after they had been sorting for a little while someone took a walk around and there were clothes hidden in the corn patch, under the container, along the fence and anywhere they could hide them so they could retrieve them later. Rachael, Pres. Nield's daughter really got after them and told them - that is theft, and we don't do that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The items were gathered up and put back. The people were all moved to the other side of the container where they could be watched more closely. They want anything they can get -- they can sell them on the street for money.
Container sorting - big job
sorting clothes by containerAbout driving in Zimbabwe: what an experience. I told Jim yesterday that this is a good way to get over noticing everyone's illegal turns, stops, etc. etc. There really are no rules or if there are everyone breaks them. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way. If they did the cars would never move. Like I said before the traffic lights (robots) hardly ever work so intersections are a 'take your best chance' crossing. On top of that people are everywhere - crossing streets anywhere and everywhere. Our first impulse is to stop for a pedestrian but they do watch and stop for the cars. Often they are standing right in the middle of two lanes waiting for their chance to run across - at home you might think this would be rather dangerous, but not here. When we were in the high density neighborhood yesterday people were really everywhere - it is amazing that cars can even drive through and that no one gets hit.
people going to townWe have no water pressure again so we are heating our water on the stove. At least we has Zesa (electricity) for now. The phone bills here have been about $10 a month but last month apparently they went to ridiculous prices of about $200 - 400 (as much as $2000) and people refused to pay them. They paid a little bit so that they couldn't disconnect them. Now the Internet isn't working a lot because they say people refused to pay their bills and they needed the money. Crazy methods.
One other thing I wanted to tell you was that there are little bonfires all over (yards, side of the road, etc.) because that is how they cook their Sadza (corn maize) or their field corn on a cob. There are patches of corn growing everywhere and wherever they can. That started because of the shortage of food grown on the farms here. That is why we have the `Prophet's Garden´ (as it has been named) here on the church property. People have plots here and are suppose to keep them up - some do better than others. Mostly they grow corn and a green vegetable that they make a relish type sauce out of. That is pretty much all they eat and they like it just fine - usually one, maybe two meals a day.
Jim went to Marondera today with Elder Taylor, to do the branch audit. They will be back about noonish. I am sorting through some information hoping that it will all make sense one day soon. Last night we joined the Taylor's in their flat next door and we watched the first `Love Comes Softly´ movie. They enjoyed that and so did we - we haven't seen it for a long time. They had a stressful day and wanted to relax - it worked.
spider on our ceilingMust get back to my paperwork. Love to all.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Hi, The internet has been down here for a couple of days. We dropped the Turners at the airport today so now it is just us!! Pres. Bester says to just take it easy and not think we need to know everything and do everything right now. We went for a nice supper last night with the couples and Pres/Sis Bester. Pres. Bester pd the bill. It was an upper class hotel resturant - good food. It wasn't really overly expensive (cheaper than it would have been at home for
the type of restuarant).
Later today we will move into the Turners flat. Beauty is cleaning it right now. She will clean ours tomorrow after we move our stuff over and she will do our laundry. Nice!! I think this flat is maybe a little nicer but the lay out is exactly the same. 2 bdrms, but one is an office for us. Turners had bought a quarter of beef so we bought what was left from them. There is a freezer there that we share with the office couple who live next door. I don't think the beef is
"Alberta beef" quality but they say it is good.
I don't think losing weight here is going to be as easy as I thought. If I want to lose I will have to be careful -- in fact I will have to be careful not to gain any. I will continue to avoid sugar but
avoiding white flour, etc. will not be so easy as whole wheat and brown rice are not easy to come by. We will just try and eat healthy. Cabbage is plentiful - easier to get than decent lettuce. We do need to go shopping for some food (actually I guess I will see what Turners left first).
It is a beautiful day today, as usual. We have gotten up and walked the past couple of days. 3 loops around the complex takes half an hour. They say we are fine to walk outside the complex too (in the daylight) so we may try that soon.
By the way mom, they never did weigh our carry-ons. I think we could easily have brought everything. O well!! I have written some stuff on our computer and want to cut and paste it
to an email but the computer is at home. I will try and do that and send some pics. I wrote about our trip to Mutare and giving to the senior's home and to the orphanage. Good experience. There are so many needy people though and we can only do so much. We constantly are handed requests and people come in asking for help. We have to decide who we can help. Like Pres. Neild said: He helps the neediest of the needy and then he can at least sleep better at nights. He is a white man from here (they call those Rhodesians). He has been successful in business and he really does a lot to help the needy - he even has his own warehouse. We will work with him a lot as he knows a lot of people and has connections. His daughter also does a lot as well. I should say daughters - he has 6 and they are very strong individuals just as he is. They are a real strength to the church here. We are not to mention to his wife all that he does - because she would be frightened to know of the places he goes and what he does.
Mom, please forward this to my kids and Kim can forward it to whoever else. We are doing fine and getting settled in.
Love to all, Jim and Nancy
the type of restuarant).
Later today we will move into the Turners flat. Beauty is cleaning it right now. She will clean ours tomorrow after we move our stuff over and she will do our laundry. Nice!! I think this flat is maybe a little nicer but the lay out is exactly the same. 2 bdrms, but one is an office for us. Turners had bought a quarter of beef so we bought what was left from them. There is a freezer there that we share with the office couple who live next door. I don't think the beef is
"Alberta beef" quality but they say it is good.
I don't think losing weight here is going to be as easy as I thought. If I want to lose I will have to be careful -- in fact I will have to be careful not to gain any. I will continue to avoid sugar but
avoiding white flour, etc. will not be so easy as whole wheat and brown rice are not easy to come by. We will just try and eat healthy. Cabbage is plentiful - easier to get than decent lettuce. We do need to go shopping for some food (actually I guess I will see what Turners left first).
It is a beautiful day today, as usual. We have gotten up and walked the past couple of days. 3 loops around the complex takes half an hour. They say we are fine to walk outside the complex too (in the daylight) so we may try that soon.
By the way mom, they never did weigh our carry-ons. I think we could easily have brought everything. O well!! I have written some stuff on our computer and want to cut and paste it
to an email but the computer is at home. I will try and do that and send some pics. I wrote about our trip to Mutare and giving to the senior's home and to the orphanage. Good experience. There are so many needy people though and we can only do so much. We constantly are handed requests and people come in asking for help. We have to decide who we can help. Like Pres. Neild said: He helps the neediest of the needy and then he can at least sleep better at nights. He is a white man from here (they call those Rhodesians). He has been successful in business and he really does a lot to help the needy - he even has his own warehouse. We will work with him a lot as he knows a lot of people and has connections. His daughter also does a lot as well. I should say daughters - he has 6 and they are very strong individuals just as he is. They are a real strength to the church here. We are not to mention to his wife all that he does - because she would be frightened to know of the places he goes and what he does.
Mom, please forward this to my kids and Kim can forward it to whoever else. We are doing fine and getting settled in.
Love to all, Jim and Nancy
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Hi, We are at the mission home checking emails. We have had a busy day that started with a meeting with the area authority from South Africa and all the stake and district presidents, mission president and welfare humanitarian couples (that is us). It was very positive and we were so impressed with those men and what they are trying to do.
This afternoon we met with the Turners for a few hours and are trying to learn some of what we need to learn.
Things are actually getting better here for the people. There is food back on the shelves at the stores if they can afford to buy it. The unemployment rate is 95% so they are trying to do whatever they can to exist and make a few dollars. There is hope that things are starting to improve. The U.S. dollar is being used now and the Zim dollar will no longer be accepted after June. It seems that will help a lot as one zillion Zim dollars equals less than a U.S. dollar. Maybe I can get some zillion dollar bills to bring home.
Tomorrow we are going to a branch about 1 1/2 hr. away. On Thursday we are going to another town to deliver some blankets and soap to a couple of orphanages and a senior's home. We will stay overnight as we have 4 appointments and we cannot drive home after dark. It is suppose to be a beautiful place. We will be with the Turners. They leave on March 16th so we are trying to get a grasp on how to do some of these things before they leave us. We are rather overwelmed but it will come.
Dad is talking to Kim and Brianne on skype so I better go get in on it. We will have to figue out a regular time to skype so family can plan to be online.
Love to all, Mom/Nancy/Sis. Bullock
(P.S. The time-stamp is MST - they are 9 hours ahead. Kim)
This afternoon we met with the Turners for a few hours and are trying to learn some of what we need to learn.
Things are actually getting better here for the people. There is food back on the shelves at the stores if they can afford to buy it. The unemployment rate is 95% so they are trying to do whatever they can to exist and make a few dollars. There is hope that things are starting to improve. The U.S. dollar is being used now and the Zim dollar will no longer be accepted after June. It seems that will help a lot as one zillion Zim dollars equals less than a U.S. dollar. Maybe I can get some zillion dollar bills to bring home.
Tomorrow we are going to a branch about 1 1/2 hr. away. On Thursday we are going to another town to deliver some blankets and soap to a couple of orphanages and a senior's home. We will stay overnight as we have 4 appointments and we cannot drive home after dark. It is suppose to be a beautiful place. We will be with the Turners. They leave on March 16th so we are trying to get a grasp on how to do some of these things before they leave us. We are rather overwelmed but it will come.
Dad is talking to Kim and Brianne on skype so I better go get in on it. We will have to figue out a regular time to skype so family can plan to be online.
Love to all, Mom/Nancy/Sis. Bullock
(P.S. The time-stamp is MST - they are 9 hours ahead. Kim)
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